Life

Meredith Kessler's Comeback Trail

The American fan favorite dishes advice on how to get back to triathlon after a break.

by Jordan Cantwell

This article is presented by Ventum.

Meredith Kessler’s Ventum bicycle stands out in any crowd. The unique paint job has a graffiti-esque look that on closer inspection reveals numerous initials--each set refering to someone who plays an important role in her life. Late last year, Kessler was thrilled to add a new set of initials to her bike after giving birth to a baby boy—Mak Ace Kessler, or MAK.

The successful racing spree is a testament to Kessler’s smart approach to coming back from pregnancy. Below she shares some advice for returning to a triathlon start line after an extended break in training—whether it’s because of lifestyle changes such as becoming a parent for the first time, or one of many another reasons life throws your way.

Listen to your body… and your doctor

Despite hopes for a natural birth, after 20 hours in labor, Kessler underwent an emergency caesarian section in order to safely deliver her baby boy.

"My birth plan was simply to have a healthy human," Kessler shares. "You do what is needed to make that happen and I’m thankful it all panned out—but it did make the road to recovery more challenging."

The American followed her doctor’s orders strictly, even though she was eager to resume her training as quickly as possible post-surgery. Accustomed to testing the limits of her body in workouts and recovery, Kessler understood that this was not the time to push through pain or stress her body before it was completely ready. It took two weeks before she ventured into the pool post-partum, and almost two months before she returned to running. She also made sure her pelvic floor could handle the stress and pounding on the treadmill before graduating to running outdoors.

Kessler experienced ups and downs as she attempted to build back to pre-pregnancy training volume.

"It was a challenge to be disciplined and not do too much too soon," she reflects. She focused on listening to her body’s feedback and reminded herself that surgery represented a traumatic event for the body. "I remember a few runs post pregnancy where I just stopped and walked home—I was in that much pain in my pelvic region."

Kessler frequently questioned whether she could ever get back to her prior fitness levels: "It was a frustrating time but I knew the body could be resilient if I allowed it to be." She was extremely patient during those early weeks, taking the long view on health and fitness, even if it meant toeing the line in Texas at less than 100 percent.

Put a positive spin on it

Putting training and racing on the backburner while pregnant wasn’t necessarily easy for this lifetime athlete, but Kessler embraced the change in circumstances and maximized what she could do.

"Working out is a lifestyle for me," she explains, adding that she continued to work out even when feeling sub-par during pregnancy. "I was motivated by the fact that I was doing something healthy for my son and preparing my body to bounce back from pregnancy with as few hurdles as possible."

Kessler believes the time away from the sport was probably a welcome break for her body after almost two decades of triathlon racing, including more than 60 full distance races. "A year off racing helped with the wear and tear," she says, "and I tried to sleep a ton in the months leading into the birth, which hopefully helped repair the body and the mind."

Tap into community

The return journey to fitness was not always straightforward as she questioned her progress and wondered whether she was doing the right thing. She turned to friends and fellow pro triathletes to compare notes and received a range of feedback. "It is unique to be able to share battle stories with your peers," she says, "although everyone has a different experience on their journey back to their former selves."

Keep it convenient

Parenthood has brought a lot of changes to daily life for Kessler and her husband Aaron; in particular, it has upended her training routine, as her son is not yet sleeping through the night. "In the past, I would have had nearly four hours of training done before 9:30 am," she laughs. "Today, I am barely starting a workout by that time!"

The Kesslers have set up their home in Ohio to make training as efficient and convenient as possible so she can be there for her son when necessary. "We created a 'woman cave' in our basement where I can bike, run, and do pelvic exercises," she says. Kessler has her Ventum training bike almost permanently installed on the trainer as she does close to 100 percent of her riding indoors.

"Given Mak's age, this allows me to see him on camera upstairs during his nap!"

While the routine has changed, Kessler recognizes the luxury she and Aaron have of being able to work from home. "We have developed a great groove as a team where we both get our work done and we both get to be with our kid!"

Ease back in

Kessler’s nerves were high when she lined up at IRONMAN Texas in April for her first race back. She was still breast-feeding and she wasn’t sure how her body would react during the almost 9 hours of racing. To assuage her concerns, she says she sought comfort in all the hours of training she'd put in, muscle memory, and her vast experience leading up to the day. Despite feeling a bit "rusty" at the start, the flow and feelings of racing came back to her quickly as the day wore on.

Ride the waves

Adding a child to the family mix has certainly created upheaval in the Kessler household but they wouldn’t have it any other way. She confesses that the new reality requires some extra work, careful time management, and a little family support, but it’s doable and highly rewarding.

"As with anything in life that requires hard work to achieve, there will be lows and emotional highs," she says, "so strap in and ride the roller coaster!"

Ventum is the Official Bike Partner of the IRONMAN Global Series.

Jordan Cantwell is a multiple-time IRONMAN finisher, Kona qualifier, and writer living in San Francisco.